Dear Shu,

I might not be able to make it to the warehouse for the next few days. Gringotts just sent me a letter and asked me to go there because I had some business to take care of. Hopefully you can complete the most basic preparation of Glamorous Potion.

I think you'll need what's in the medicine box.

Love,

Ivy.

"Are you sure you want to go alone?" Robin was a little worried. Though he didn't object to the fact that Ivy often went out alone and went for a walk, or that she wanted to go to Diagon Alley every now and then. But going to Gringotts bank alone without a guardian is a not very good idea. "I can come with you if you want?"

Ivy shook her head, rolled up the letter she'd just written and tied it to the foot of a snowy owl that was perched on the living room window sill. Snowball pecked on the back of her hand, and Ivy stroked its head. She whispered, and let Snowball fly away. Then she turned to see Robin still standing in the living room, looking a little nervous.

"I'm fine." Ivy glanced at the second floor, Phil resting upstairs. After the last incident, Ivy refrained from leaving the house too early. She usually lingered until after breakfast, and when she was sure Phil was well rested, she went to the warehouse. Shu is always there, and Ivy doesn't know what she would do without his help. "I'll be back soon. You can stay and take care of Phil."

Robin saw that Ivy was adamant and did not say anything, just nodded and wished her well. Ivy grabbed her cloak, pulled up her hood, covered her blue hair tied in a ponytail, slipped her wand into the holster on her arm, and left the house.

Robin saw her out of the house, waving his wand to call the Knight Bus for Ivy. When the long bus appeared from the sky and landed in front of the two of them. Ivy turned around, waved at Robin, and got into the bus. She looked at the driver, a skinny man wearing a pirate hat, one eye missing, smiling at Ivy and showing black teeth, asking in a hoarse voice.

"Where are you going, little witch?"

"Diagon Alley."

Ivy dropped a few coins into a glass jar near the driver and sat down in an empty seat. Ivy ignored the way this bus sped wildly and wriggled through the streets. She pulled from her pocket an envelope, the outside still has the crimson seal of the Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

"Dear Ivy Morgana "Eve" Eveland, Heir to the Noble and Ancient House of Eveland,

We cordially invite you to the Gringotts Wizarding Bank to complete the receipt and confirmation of the inheritances listed in your name. At the same time, we also need your presence to be able to read the will of Sir Michael Suden "Mike" Avery, Order of Merlin, First Class.

We hope you can be at the bank by nine o'clock in the morning.

Best regards.

Trixie, Eveland's Financial Manager."

Michael's will? Ivy sighed, put the letter away, rubbing her slightly aching temple. She had never known that her brother had a will. Anyway, Michael was too young to make a will, but for someone destined to go to war and possibly never return, it was understandable if he had left a so called is a will .

Ivy didn't want to worry too much about the fortune of the Eveland heir, she wondered what kind of will her brother would send her. She took out a necklace that lies behind her robe, it was a necklace with an old silver ring. The design of this ring is completely unsuitable for the Wizarding world. Because it was just a simple Muggle silver ring that Michael had always worn on his finger.

Ivy looked at the ring, gently stroking the somewhat old engraved text inside "Mike". This was the birthday present Ivy gave to her brother when he turned eighteen. She put a lot of amulets and protective charms on this ring. But what spell can stop death?

She closed her eyes tightly, the memory replaying in her mind. The day they announced that Michael had passed away, the only thing she had left was this ring.

"Why do you want a Muggle ring?" Ivy was confused. She was sprawled out on her brother's bed, half-reading one of the Muggle fantasy novels her brother had given her. Michael has always had a special affection for Muggle culture, and often tells her many stories about them. "I thought a magic ring would be nicer."

Michael laughed. He wrote the last lines on his unfinished letter, let the ink dry, then rolled it up and attached it onto his owl's paw. Michael walked over to the bed and looked at Ivy lying on her stomach, reading one of the Lord of the Rings novels. He raised his hand and patted his sister's head.

"Because magic ring represents their title, Ivy. We only have the Heir's ring, and the Lord's ring."

Ivy tilted her head, still looking unsure why her brother wanted to buy a Muggle ring. Michael looked at her, so tenderly. His dark eyes flashed with light, Michael's fingers caressed and stroked his sister's soft hair. He whispered. "Because Muggle rings can also be seen as jewelry."

"I can buy it for you." Ivy smiled, her eyes crinkling, her face still slightly plump was full of joy. "I'll give it to you."

"Really?" Michael smiled, he kissed his sister's forehead, spoke softly. "Thank you."

Ivy opened her eyes when the bus braked sharply, she grabbed the handrail next to her so that she wouldn't fall down because of inertia. Ivy sighed, feeling a little dizzy. As a pure-blood and was raised in the magical world, Ivy has to admit that she hates wizarding ways of travel. Ivy staggered to her feet, nodded to the driver, and staggered down the steps.

When she touched the ground, she felt as if she had calmed down from the trip. Ivy drew her wand, tapped the bricks on the wall to reveal a passage, and entered Diagon Alley.

Ivy watched the busy street, pulled her hood carefully, and quickly walked over to Gringotts bank. She didn't like the idea that someone might recognize her in this place. As Ivy stepped into the lobby, a goblin wearing a black suit quickly appeared . Ivy pulled down her hood, revealing her distinctive blue hair, and bowed her head and received the same greeting in return.

"Welcome to Gringotts, Heir Eveland. This way please." Trixie – Ivy guessed that was the name of this elf, who would be responsible for guiding her through the procedures here, leading the way to a room. He pushed open the heavy wooden door, letting Ivy in. "First, we need to go through some formalities to confirm your identity."

Ivy nodded, watching Trixie snap his fingers, and a parchment appeared in front of her. Ivy took the paper and skimmed the contents. Heritage Test. One of the strictest procedures, requires the use of the signer's blood to confirm bloodline and identity. After dripping blood on this piece of paper, on it will appear information to prove the identity as well as list the entire inheritance.

Ivy drew her wand, pointed it on her index finger, a drop of her blood appeared. Ivy dripped it onto the parchment. She watched it light up, then the words on it gradually appeared in front of her.

Ivy Morgana "Eve" Eveland

Father: Lord Levi Logan Eveland – deceased

Mother: Madam Arleth Freyja Eveland (née Avery) – deceased

Siblings: Heir Michael Suden "Mike" Avery (adopted) – deceased

Godfather:

Philip Finley "Phil" Black

Theodore Plutarch "Theo" Grant

Magic Guardian: Javier Dante Eveland

List of inherited assets

Heir of the Noble and Ancient House of Eveland

Heir to the Noble House of Avery- can be claimed after brother's death

Heir of the Noble and Ancient House of Black

Heir of the Noble and Ancient House of Grant

"Grant?" Ivy frowned. She returned the parchment to Trixie, falling into deep thought when she saw a very unfamiliar last name she had never known. "I didn't know I was connected to that family."

Eveland is a... very mysterious family, a family that hides many secrets. The existence of the Eveland true heirs had been kept hidden for centuries in the Wizarding world. Avery is a family with a history not as old as Eveland's, but is also considered a pure-blood family, and of course, they take a neutral position in wizarding wars.

Black, meanwhile, is a house born to wizards and witches who worship the Dark Lord's ideals. Phil - Ivy's godfather is an exception, because he was soon removed from the family tree. Ivy did not understand why she was given the right to inherit the Black's legacy when her godfather was no longer a true Black.

As for Grant, this is a reclusive family, they worship knowledge and are also people of the neutral faction in the war. Growing up, Ivy never thought she'd ever met a man named Theodore Grant - who proved to be her second godfather. And she didn't remember anyone ever saying she was related to this family.

"Do I need to go through the procedures to receive the inheritance now?"

"If you wish, Heir Eveland."

Ivy rubbed her temples. "If I want to get the stuffs from the vaults, I have to accept the inheritance, right?"

"Indeed." Trixie nodded. "If you want to take things from the family's original vaults, you have to be the heir to open the vaults. However, you can still use the money of the normal vault that was opened exclusively in your name when your parents were alive as usual."

The goblin was quick to explain. He took the paper from Ivy's hand, placed it carefully on the table, then snapped his fingers again, an envelope appeared on the table. Ivy saw on it was the red seal of the Avery family. Michael's will.

"I don't know if you want to hear the will first, or continue with the inheritance process?"

"I'll hear the will first."

In a low voice, she pushed back a chair and sat down, watching Trixie carefully open the envelope and pull out a piece of paper. Ivy could easily recognize her brother's handwriting on the page. Trixie's muffled voice echoed through the room, reaching Ivy's ears.

Shu folded the letter in his hand. He carefully stuffed it into his inner pocket, Shu's purple eyes silently peering into the silver cauldron, the liquid inside was pitch black and emitting an unpleasant scent. He carefully stirred clockwise three times, then slowly dropped a hair of the Thestral inside. When the hair is in contact with the liquid surface, a puff of smoke rises and the poison becomes dark green.

Shu let out a breath, looked at the instructions again, stopped stirring. They needed to wait for the potion to transform for four days before taking the next step. Shu put away his wand, he glanced at Lethifold lying on the table in the warehouse.

He have to say he still don't like that name very much. Lethifold is an evil being and is even scarier than the Dementor in Shu's mind. However, Ivy and his pet seem to really like the name. Shu didn't want to argue anymore, after all, it was just a name.

He walked over to the table with the ingredients on it, skimming once more what he needed to do to prepare for the next step. He wondered how Ivy could find a way to make this advanced potion. Moreover, the materials to make it are not cheap, there are even a lot of banned ingredients.

Ivy Eveland, it's really not what people imagine.

Shu remembered her letter, went to the medicine box on the table, and opened it. He was dumbfounded, inside there were many different potions, based on the color of the liquid, they were made to a very standard, and more advanced than the items sold in Diagon Alley. He pulled out a bottle of Murtlap Essence, a pale purple liquid that shimmered in the yellow light of the warehouse. Shu smiled.

'I think you'll need what's in the medicine box.'

What a caring girl.

Shu frowned, pretending he didn't hear the voice ringing in his ears. He put the potion back in its place, turned and sat on the floor, his back against the wall. The wounds on his back were a bit painful because of his movements, Shu moved uncomfortably, then closed his eyes.

You know that ignoring me won't solve anything.

Shu pursed his lips. Go away.

You had to accept your power. As long as you refused it, you would be nothing more than a useless person, weak and unable to protect yourself.

Shu didn't answer. These words he had heard many times and Shu also understood very well what would happen if he continued like this. Shu looked at his hand, moving his fingers gently. Over the years, his magic has declined, also because Shu is struggling with himself, and he is constantly denying the magic flowing in his body.

Even now his magic wasn't enough to heal his wounds, or simply make him heal faster. Shu thinks that it's okay like this. Because he also had no intention of living longer. The power that Shu had, was something the Dark Lord coveted. Something his father wanted to use to make him the next Dark Lord.

And Shu, doesn't want to become an evil and cruel person. So this magic should just disappear.

The warehouse door was pushed open. Shu saw Ivy come inside, she closed the door, leaned against it, and didn't say anything. The two of them looked at each other silently, each sitting in a corner of the room. Sometimes Shu feels that it's fine for them to stay like this. Sometimes all they need is someone's presence in the room. Just can hear the breathing, the gentle sounds from the other.

Because loneliness, is sometimes even scarier than the pain, the nightmares they are enduring every day.

"I thought you wouldn't come for the next few days."

Ivy did not answer. She walked over slowly, taking off her hood. Shu quietly watched her sit cross-legged across from him. Their knees touched, and immediately Shu could feel Ivy's magic pouring into his body. Soft, gentle like a thin silk, caressing the wounds on his body. That scent after a few days has become so familiar with him, drifting around the tip of his nose. Shu wonders, when will he be able to really recognize what this scent is.

"Hi."

Ivy whispered. Shu quietly observed her face, then asked softly.

"Gringotts?"

Ivy nodded. And then Shu saw a ring on her index finger. He raised his eyebrows, sitting up straight, studying her ring intently. The ring is black, with a finely honed Blue Topaz on it. Shu saw the stone gently light up in front of him, a strange scent emanating from it. The scent was far different from the magic Ivy used to use.

"So you've taken over the Heir status?"

Ivy nodded again. She looked down at the ring on her finger, moving her index finger slightly. Shu saw a pale yellow light appear on her fingertips. The light spot moved, like a firefly flying around the ring. Shu quietly sat there observing, not saying anything.

"Eveland."

"And?"

Ivy raised her head to look at Shu, her golden eyes showing helplessness. And at that moment, he saw her middle finger show another ring. The black diamond on it is very special and feels very powerful, but right now it is sleeping. Like a snake hibernating just waiting to wake up.

"And Black."

Shu raised an eyebrow. "Congratulations, you must have been the only heir of two families in history."

Ivy glanced at Shu once, then shrugged. "Is that rare?"

Shu laughed. "You know you're a pure-blood right?"

Ivy nodded, not quite sure why Shu mentioned this. Ivy never thought her status was as important to her bloodline as the other descendants from the ancient families of the wizarding world. Because she thinks that magic has nothing to do with bloodline. Shu looked at Ivy for a moment, then lifted his hand, letting her see his ring better. Ivy blinked, realizing why Lethifold called Shu Smoke. Because the ring on his hand was inlaid with a very strange stone, inside the stone, there was moving smoke.

"Inheriting two families at once will increase your magic. It means you're stronger than the others."

"Magic doesn't work like that." Ivy frowned.

"Oh?" Shu tilted his head, and amusedly asked. "So you have another explanation for how magic works?"

Ivy did not answer. Shu didn't ask any more questions. He only knew that her actions proved that she neither admitted nor denied what he was asking. One day, Ivy would tell him what she thought. But not today.

The two of them fell silent once more. This time, the air became heavier. Because they both have their own thoughts. He watched Lethifold slither slowly down from the table, and curled up onto Ivy's lap. At times, he actually thought that Lethifold liked Ivy more. But it was understandable when he only agreed to taste Ivy's magic. Witches and their magical pets often have a much more special bond.

"Four days later we can proceed to the second brewing step."

Ivy froze, turning her head to look at the cauldron that was spewing light white smoke. She smiled lightly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, but I need it anyway."

"This potion is effective for three months. We can make it again in December and continue to use it."

Ivy nodded after hearing Shu continue.

"Christmas, a week is enough to make." If she wasn't distracted by other things.

Shu was silent when he heard Ivy speak. He took a deep breath, lightly touching Ivy's knee with his knee. She was surprised, her golden eyes glittering at him. His purple eyes looked at her calmly. The emotions in it... made Ivy shift, she didn't feel very comfortable when he looked at her like that.

"You don't think I'll keep coming back after the potion is done."

It's not a question, but a statement. And Ivy... doesn't deny it. Because she really thinks so.

Because Shu has no reason to come back. They weren't friends, at best they were acquaintances. What drew them together, was simply because Shu and Ivy both needed the poison to cover the wounds that were imprinting on their bodies.

Shu is a smart person, he won't need Ivy's help to make this potion a second time. In a few days, their relationship will be back to the way it was, and it will be just strangers who accidentally meet each other once or twice.

A sudden sense of loss welled up in Ivy's heart. She lowered her eyes and replied softly.

"Because you have no reason to stay."

"Do you want me to stay?"

Ivy froze, raising her head to look into Shu's quiet eyes. There is no expectation, no hope, only waiting, waiting for the answer that Ivy will give.

If you want, I'll come back .

Ivy... afraid of promises. Because it will bring hope, it will bring expectations. And when those promises are not fulfilled, what is left is regret, which is hurt.

'I will be back.'

A promise that never came true. And countless other promises, other hopes, and other expectations also disappeared, leaving only memories and regrets in the hearts of those who remained.

Don't promise when you can't make it come true. Don't promise things you can't do. Ivy wanted to say that, she quietly let herself sink into Shu's purple eyes. That look, the way he looked at her, made Ivy's heart skip a beat. Each beat became difficult, each breath became laborious. But Ivy wanted to hope, to hope for what Shu didn't say, in what he implied in his words.

She got to choose, didn't she. Whatever the outcome, because she chose, Ivy will take responsibility for her choice.

And today, she wants to believe in an unspeakable promise from Shu Yamino.

Ivy quietly took Shu's hand, their fingers interlaced, like the way they had gently held each other's hands that day, to comfort, to give each other some hope.

She looked down at their fingers, at the way Shu squeezed hers. Ivy chuckled, you are hoping me to say it too, aren't you?

"Yes. Please come back." Even if there's no reason for us to see each other anymore.

Murtlap Essence: A potion that soothes and heals painful cuts and abrasions.